Munda Reds Droughtmaster Golden Boy tops at $42,500 and $16,000 raised for Telethon

A Gingin-bred Droughtmaster bull sold to a top of $42,500 at the Thompson family’s second annual Munda Reds Droughtmaster Bull Sale with $16,000 raised for Telethon. Overall, the sale held on April 13 and conducted by Nutrien Livestock offered and sold 116 bulls grossing $1,418,500 with 84 stud bulls averaging $13,470 and 32 commercial bulls averaging $8969, up $782 and $579/head respectively. The sale topper, double polled Munda Golden Boy 4779 (PP), was secured by the the Paull family who run the Davis River Pastoral Partnership which includes Noreena Downs station in Nullagine, 160km north-east of Newman. Kate Paull, who runs the station with her brother Joe and mother Anne, said Golden Boy would play a part in providing quiet cattle that have fertility and good carcase traits. “This bull has a soft rounded head, sleek coat, depth, width and a stack of meat (beef), while being double polled with sire appeal,” Kate said. “Golden Boy, our most expensive bull so far, will be put over 70 to 150 of our finest breeders with our intention to select replacement heifers and a few top notch herd bulls. The 22-month-old 662kg M Golden Boy was sired by Oasis A Hudson (P) D5 and was offered as a young bull with “sire appeal”. The Paull family also secured three other bulls for an average price of $12,000. The $40,000 second top-priced bull, Munda Golden Goose (PP) sired by Munda Commander (P), was secured by Paul Laycock and Katrina Wallis, of High Country Droughtmaster stud in Eskdale, Queensland. Mr Laycock said he was selecting for good bone and depth and a “sirey outlook”. He was the $60,000 top-priced buyer last year and secured a total of five bulls which have “performed brillantly” with calves due to drop in July. Mr Laycock also secured Munda Ground Breaker 4762 (PH) for $35,000, a 868kg heavyweight sired by SC Glencoe (P) D4. Other top-selling bulls included Munda Gold Star that sold for $30,000 to the Giles family, of Quicksilver Droughtmaster stud in Newdegate. As a first time buyer of Munda genetics, Quicksilver stud co-principal Dani Giles said the bull was a total outcross for the stud that she started with her husband Doug eight years ago. “The bull is very correct with a quiet temperament and we will use him over stud cows and heifers,” Ms Giles said. Another stud account securing Munda General 4316 (PP), sired by Oasis A Hudson, was JR Atkinson & Company of Glenavon stud in Yaama, Queensland. Repeat buyer and Warrawagine Cattle Company managing director Rob Jowett, who runs Droughtmaster cattle on a million acres in the Pilbara and the Kimberley, secured 13 bulls to a top of $21,000 and average price of $15,230/head. Mr Jowett also bought the Telethon charity bull for $16,000 to back up his purchase of last year’s fundraising bull for a “great cause”. Other volume buyers included upper Gascoyne-based Wanna station that secured 19 bulls for an average price of $10,053/head through Elders agent Clint Avery. Elders Geraldton agent Alan Browning was kept busy with his buying order for two first time Munda buyers with account CD & C Ward, of Lake Violet in Wiluna securing 11 bulls for an average price of $11,091 and RW CD & NE Ward at Millrose station in Wiluna securing 11 bulls for an average price of $10,273. Mr Browning said the Ward families have had very dry conditions and hadn’t been in the bull market for several years. “They recently had between 120 to 170mm to set the season up and were keen to build up cattle numbers with a decision to run with Droughtmasters,” he said. Mr Browning also bought five bulls for an average price of $10,000 on behalf of new buying account Zancor that trades as Breakaway Beef at Windsor station, which is starting up with Droughtmasters. Munda Reds Droughtmaster stud co-principal Michael Thompson said the sale had “terrific support” and it was “a great day” for the Droughtmaster breed.